Transfer Domain to Squarespace, or Between Two Sites

There are two versions of this. To transfer domain to Squarespace from another registrar, unlock it there, get the authorization code, then start the transfer under Domains in Squarespace. To move one between two Squarespace sites, disconnect it from the old site and connect it on the new one.

Before you move anything

Two things to sort out first, because both are much harder afterward.

Make sure the new site is finished and reviewed. The moment the domain moves, that's what the public sees. Keep it password protected until the last minute.

And write down every URL on the old site. If the new site uses different page addresses, you need that list to build redirects, and once the old site is disconnected you can't easily get it.

Also check where email is pointing. If you use email on this domain through Google Workspace or similar, note the MX records before touching anything.

Transfer domain to Squarespace from another registrar

If your domain is currently at GoDaddy, Namecheap or anywhere else and you want Squarespace to hold it, this is the process.

Start at your current registrar. Unlock the domain, which is usually a toggle in its settings, and turn off any privacy protection temporarily since it can block the confirmation email. Then request the authorization code, sometimes called an EPP or transfer code. It normally arrives by email within minutes.

In Squarespace, go to Domains and choose to transfer a domain in. Enter the domain and paste the authorization code.

Transfers take five to seven days to complete. That is ICANN's process, not Squarespace being slow, and nothing you do speeds it up. Your site stays online throughout, because the domain keeps pointing where it already points until the transfer finishes.

Two things that block a transfer: a domain registered or transferred within the last 60 days, which is locked by policy, and an expired or nearly expired domain. Renew first if you are close to the date.

Worth saying you often do not need to transfer at all. Connecting a domain leaves it registered where it is and points it at your Squarespace site, which takes minutes instead of a week and works just as well. Transfer only if you actively want the billing and management in one place.

Disconnecting and reconnecting

Log in to the site where the domain currently lives. Go to Settings and you'll land on Domains, showing every domain on that site.

Select your domain and disconnect it from the site. This doesn't cancel or delete the domain, it just detaches it, and it stays in your Squarespace account.

Now open the new site, go to Settings then Domains, and connect the existing domain. It should appear as available to link.

Give it a few minutes. There's usually a short window where the domain resolves inconsistently while DNS updates, which is normal and not something to fix by clicking more buttons.

The redirects that protect your rankings

This is the step that decides whether the move costs you traffic, and it's the one people skip.

If your new site uses the same page URLs as the old one, you're fine. If any URL changed, every changed address needs a 301 redirect pointing to its replacement, or every link to it and every ranking it held hits a dead end.

/old-path -> /new-path 301.

Work down the URL list you saved, starting with the pages that had actual traffic. Then verify the new sitemap in Search Console once you're live.

The same rules apply when moving from another platform entirely, which I covered in the WordPress to Squarespace migration guide.

Keeping email working

Email is separate from your website, but they share DNS, which is why moves sometimes break it.

If your email runs on this domain, check the MX records survived the move. Compare them against what you noted earlier and re-enter them if they're missing.

Then send yourself a test message from an outside address. Broken email after a domain move is the kind of problem you find out about days later when someone asks why you never replied.

After the move

Load the domain in a private window and confirm the new site appears.

Check both the www and non-www versions resolve, since one of them redirecting to the other is what you want and a missing record is a common cause of a half-working site.

Confirm HTTPS is active. Squarespace issues a new certificate after a domain connection, which can take up to a day, and during that window browsers may show a warning.

Then submit the sitemap in Search Console and watch coverage for a couple of weeks. Some ranking movement immediately after a move is normal.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move a domain between two Squarespace sites?

Yes, if both are on the same Squarespace account. Disconnect it from the old site, then connect it on the new one.

Will I lose SEO when moving my domain to a new site?

Not if URLs stay the same or changed ones get 301 redirects. The domain keeps its authority, it's broken URLs that cost you traffic.

How long does the domain change take?

Usually minutes, occasionally up to 48 hours for DNS to settle everywhere. The HTTPS certificate can take up to a day, so a brief security warning right after the switch isn't unusual.

Will my email stop working?

It shouldn't, but check your MX records after the move and send a test message, since email and website share DNS and records occasionally get lost.

Launching a rebuild and want the switchover handled with the redirects done properly? See how my redesigns work, or book a free call.

I'm Dylan, the designer behind Highr Labs and a Squarespace Circle Platinum Partner. I build custom Squarespace sites for businesses in Utah and across the US. More about me, or book a free call if you want to talk through a project.